Are you sure that you are giving your upper body the warm up that it needs before doing a workout? Often, people stick to basic arm swings and stretches before working out their upper body. However, doing an upper body warm-up before lifting weights is a critical part of the process. If you do not properly warm up, you are putting yourself at a greater risk for injury and increasing your chances of becoming sore after a workout.

In order to keep your workouts safe and effective, try doing an upper body warm-up that will improve your wrist and shoulder mobility. This warm-up can also strengthen your shoulder, core, and upper back.

Improving your shoulder strength and mobility can also help you to overcome a plateau in upper body exercises such as pull ups and incline push-ups. This specific warm-up also focuses on your abdominal and oblique muscles to help increase your core strength.

In order to do an upper body warm-up, complete two rounds of these exercises in order.

Wrist stretch on floor

There are a few ways that you can do this. A simple way is to get on your hands and knees with your elbows straight and your palms facing up. Bear down on the backs of your hands until your wrists feel a stretch.

In this same position, move your fingers up towards the sky and back down again to create a deeper stretch into your wrists.

Hollow-body plank

This is a well-known stretch for gymnasts that helps strengthen the core and stretch the shoulders and wrists. To do this, get in a plank position up on your hands and toes. Twist your arms so that your fingers are pointing back towards your body. Keep your heels and legs together. Hold this pose.

Scapular pushup

Start in the pushup position with your hands directly under your shoulders and your core held in tight. Simply retract and protract your shoulder blades to create a very slight up and down movement. You should only be moving up and down one or two inches.

Single-arm hollow plank, right

Get into a push-up position on the floor with your arms straight. Place your arms slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and put your hands just below your shoulders.

Keeping your legs straight, form a straight line with your body. Keep your pelvis, spine, and neck neutral and keep your head in a line with your spine.

Raise your right arm in front of you and hold this position while tightening your core.

Floor angel

Lay down flat on your back with your knees up and your feet on the ground. Lift your arms up over your head with your palms facing up. Slowly bring your arms back down so your hands are even with your ears. Repeat this movement.

Single-arm hollow plank, left

Repeat this exercise, raising your left arm instead of your right.

Y-Press out

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and push your arms up and out so your body makes a "Y" position. Pull your arms back towards your body before pushing them back out into the "Y" position.

Hollow-body pushup

Get in a pushup position but lift up your body with your toes. Slowly lower your upper body by bending your elbows, bringing your nose towards to ground. Hold this position with your arms supporting your body with your elbows bent before lifting yourself back up.

Do each of these moves for 30 seconds with a 10-second break in between. After your first round, do another to complete your warm-up.

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